TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 INTERNATIONAL

Tajikistan’s Rakhmon: Unchallenged ruler of impoverished state

DUSHANBE: Tajikistan President Emomali Rakhmon Russification, in 2007 dropping the Russian ‘ov’ from has ruled the Central Asian state for over two the end of his surname and making it clear he would decades, restoring a degree of stability after its be known as Rakhmon. The status of the Russian ruinous post-Soviet civil war but failing to eradicate language was downgraded in 2009. By contrast, grinding poverty and chronic energy problems. A Rakhmon has sought to tighten economic ties with burly former collective farm chief from the rural giant neighbor China and key regional player Iran, south of the country, Rakhmon, 61, is expected to with which Tajikistan shares linguistic and cultural easily win re-election tomorrow in polls that will ties. Military cooperation with the United States has once again pose questions about the health of also widened, a key factor as Washington prepares Tajikistan’s political system. The country is the poor- to withdraw its troops by 2014 from Afghanistan, est state in the former Soviet Union and its energy which shares a 1,200-kilometre border with shortages mean that its citizens experience hours of Tajikistan. power cuts every day, even in winter. IN POWER TILL 2020 Yet on every trip around the country Rakhmon is After his first election as president in 1994, shown by state television surrounded by well-wish- Rakhmon was then easily re-elected in peacetime in ers who sing him odes and address him as “your 1999 and 2006. With the presidential term now sev- highness” and is expected to win the election at a en years, he is due to stay in power until 2020 if he canter. The US diplomatic cables leaked in 2010 by wins these elections. With little serious opposition WikiLeaks painted a grim picture of the state, saying inside his political system and genuine opponents that from the “president down to the policeman on sidelined, observers believe that the father of nine is the street, government is characterized by cronyism grooming his eldest son, Rustami Emomali, 25, to and corruption.” Rakhmon took power in 1992 at the succeed him. The young man, who has already risen beginning of what was to be a five-year civil war to be deputy head of the customs service, is often DUSHANBE: People wave Tajik flags in front of a giant poster depicting Tajikistan’s President between secular forces and Islamists, when few oth- seen at his father’s side on state television during Emomali Rakhmon during a rally in support of Rakhmon in Dushanbe. — AFP ers wanted to be leader simply for the sake of self- meetings with the government or visiting foreign preservation. delegations. tric power station. high-spending weddings and even funerals and Initially taking the post of chairman of the His eldest daughter, Ozoda, is a deputy foreign But the project has been held back by logistical banned students from driving themselves to college Supreme Soviet, he vowed to bring Tajikistan “peace minister. Rakhmon, who was born in the southwest problems and Rakhmon’s dire relations with power- or bringing in mobile phones. But according to the and unity” but the civil war ended only with a peace region of Kulub, has invited controversy inside the ful rival President Islam Karimov of neighboring WikiLeaks diplomatic cables-whose contents where treaty signed in Moscow in 1997 and years of fight- country by packing top posts with fellow natives of Uzbekistan, who fears the project will take away his vehemently denied by Dushanbe-it is the president ing that left tens of thousands dead. The staunchly the south of Tajikistan and ignoring those from the country’s water and has warned the tensions could and his clique who are the most lavish of them all. secular Rakhmon has since moved to wipe out the north. The mountainous, landlocked country has lead to war. Amid the economic problems that The cables alleged that most of the revenues of the armed Islamist opposition although there have few energy resources of its own except water and its according to the World Bank mean the average Tajik Aluminum Company, which is the country’s been outbursts of trouble, most notably in 2010 only major export is aluminum. Rakhmon’s ambition income of the country’s 8 million people is just $860 main exporter, “end up in a secretive offshore com- when unrest left dozens of Tajik servicemen dead. is to solve these problems by reviving a Soviet proj- a year, Rakhmon has ordered a crackdown on luxury. pany controlled by the president, and the state He also spearheaded an energetic policy of de- ect to build the gargantuan Rogun dam hydroelec- He has told Tajiks to scale down their typically budget sees little of the income.” — AFP Musharraf granted bail in his last case Ex-general on bail in all court cases

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan court yesterday grant- ed bail to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf over a deadly raid on a radical mosque, bringing closer his possible release after more than six months of house arrest. The ruling by an Islamabad district court means the ex-general is on bail in all the cases brought against him since his return to Pakistan from self-imposed exile, including one relating to the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. AHMEDABAD: Chief Minister of the western Indian state of Gujarat and Bharatiya But the 70-year-old is likely to remain under Janta Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate (center) gestures as he heavy guard at his villa on the edge of greets supporters upon his arrival at The Bhadrakali Mandir in Ahmedabad yester- Islamabad, where he has been under house day. — AFP arrest since April, because of serious threats to his life. Judge Wajid Ali approved bail on condi- tion Musharraf pays bonds totaling 200,000 rupees ($2,000). The trial is due to start on throws November 11. Defense lawyer Afshan Adil said the money would be paid today, but rejected rumors that have circulated in recent months rings of protection that Musharraf would try to leave Pakistan. “He is not going abroad and will stay in the country,” she said. around Modi Musharraf’s name is currently on the interior ministry’s “exit control list”, meaning he cannot ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf (center) is escorted by soldiers as NEW DELHI: Indian security forces are tize” sites six times, the last time an hour leave Pakistan without the approval of the gov- he arrives at an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad. A Pakistan court yesterday granted bail to preparing for one of their most challeng- before Modi’s arrival, a security official ernment. Musharraf was arrested last month former military ruler Pervez Musharraf over a deadly raid on a radical mosque, bringing closer ing assignments in decades, protecting said. “Sewage pipes, manholes, you plug over the deadly 2007 raid on the Red Mosque in his possible release after more than six months of house arrest. — AFP prime ministerial candidate Narendra every hole in the ground and above,” said Islamabad, just a day after he was given bail in Musharraf has faced charges over Bhutto’s mur- ate grounds, but aides have said repeatedly that Modi in a country with a grim history of the official. Gandhi has spoken of the the last of three major cases against him dating der at an election rally in 2007, the death of a he is determined to face justice and clear his political assassinations. A series of small deaths of his father and grandmother and back to his 1999-2008 rule. Tariq Asad, a lawyer Baluch rebel leader in 2006 and the suspension name. The ex-ruler has been living in part of his bombs killed six people at a rally the said recently he could be next to fall to the for the Red Mosque, condemned the bail ruling of judges in 2007. 1,100 square meter house, declared a “sub-jail” Hindu nationalist leader held in the city of politics of hate. He is guarded by the top- and said an appeal would be launched in the In April he was put under house arrest, an under the auspices of a prison in Rawalpindi. He Patna on Oct 27. Authorities said the level Special Protection Group. An attack high court. unprecedented move in a country ruled for is guarded by some 300 police, paramilitaries home-grown Indian Mujahideen (IM) on either Modi or Gandhi could spark The former commando returned to Pakistan more than half of its life by the military. The deci- and marksmen. Reports have claimed he is group was responsible. While Modi was waves of reprisal violence. in March to run in the May general election, sion was seen by many as a challenge to the enjoying a comfortable life in detention. He has not in the immediate vicinity of the explo- Modi, the three-time chief minister of vowing to “save” the country from economic col- armed forces’ power. Since Sharif won the elec- even had the services of his personal cook sions, the message was clear. Gujarat arouses strong passions among lapse and militancy. But he was barred from tion there have been repeated rumors that a because of his fears of being poisoned. The “Narendra Modi is way above everyone supporters and rivals. He is a hero of the standing in the election, won convincingly by deal would be reached to allow Musharraf to Taleban have threatened to kill Musharraf, who else on their hit list,” said an officer in the Hindu right, and seen as a tough, busi- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-the man he ousted leave Pakistan before his trials were completed. as president allied Pakistan with Washington in Intelligence Bureau, who declined to be ness-friendly administrator who can help from power in 1999 — and was hit with a series One theory was that he might be allowed to visit the US “war on terror” in the wake of the 9/11 identified as he is not authorized to speak steady a nation in economic drift. Critics of criminal cases dating back to his rule. his sick elderly mother in Dubai on compassion- attacks. — AFP to the media. “The IM cadre say he is actu- accuse him of a deep-seated bias against ally 1 to 10 on their list. The rest come Muslims and say he turned a blind eye to after that,” said the officer, citing confes- attacks during the 2002 riots. The india’s Congress party India PM urged to shun sions of captured militants. Modi will lead Supreme Court absolved him of any his Bharatiya into a general wrongdoing. seeks opinion poll curbs Commonwealth summit election due by May and his enemies will The Indian Mujahideen has ties to NEW DELHI: A senior Indian min- veyed my opinion to the Prime NEW DELHI: India’s ruling national election in 2009, most almost certainly be looking for another Pakistan-based militants who have ister yesterday urged Prime Minister that he should not visit Congress party has supported opinion polls by large agencies opportunity to strike. launched numerous attacks in India Minister Manmohan Singh to Sri Lanka,” Narayanasamy told calls to ban electoral opinion polls correctly forecast the Congress The militants hold Modi responsible for including the 2008 assault on several tar- boycott a Commonwealth sum- national news agency the Press in the world’s largest democracy would win more seats than the riots in 2002, during his first term as chief gets in the city of Mumbai. Four days mit in Sri Lanka because of Trust of India (PTI). in what the opposition said is an opposition minister of Gujarat state, in which at least before the explosions at recent Patna rally, human rights abuses, joining Leaders on both sides of attempt to suppress bad news (BJP) but underestimated the size 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, were the Intelligence Bureau sent a letter to opposition in government ranks Indian politics are wary of upset- during a busy election season of its winning margin. The killed. Modi denies any role in the riots or state authorities warning them of the to the trip. Environment Minister ting Tamil voters months before starting next week. Congress has Congress-led coalition won 262 bias against minority Muslims. Communal threat to Modi, although they did not Jayanthi Natarajan said she want- the country holds national elec- fared badly in a raft of recent sur- seats. animosity has led to several high-profile have specific information. “Narendra Modi ed Singh to consider the “strong tions. While India’s foreign min- veys that show the party is on the After ten years in power, the assassinations in India, beginning months being perceived as a leader of Hindus, sentiments” of ethnic Tamils and istry said last week no final deci- back foot ahead of state elections government coalition is facing an after independence when a Hindu fanatic may be targeted by rabid elements,” the stay away from the sion has been taken on whether starting next week and a general uphill battle to convince voters it gunned down Mahatma Gandhi, the bureau said. “Modi is also a target in the Commonwealth Heads of Singh will attend the November election due within six months. deserves a third term. Welfare leader of a non-violent struggle to throw list of various terrorist organizations.” Government Meeting (CHOGM) 15-17 meeting, some ministry “What is the authenticity, what is schemes and years of fast eco- off British rule. He is now protected by 108 Black Cat in Colombo next week. officials said they were in favor of the scientific process all these nomic growth have increased Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was commandos of the National Security “I will write to the PM asking his visit, PTI reported yesterday. agencies are adopting in predict- prosperity in much of the country, not related to Mahatma Gandhi, was killed Guard (NSG), the anti-terrorism force that him to skip the CHOGM meet,” The pressure on Singh comes ing (results with) these polls?” the but polls suggest many voters are by Sikh bodyguards in 1984 and her son, fought the militants who mounted the Natarajan told reporters in Tamil, after Canadian Prime Minister Congress party’s general secre- favoring the BJP’s candidate former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was Mumbai attack. Originally, Modi had a comments that were translated Stephen Harper urged his coun- tary, Digvijaya Singh, said in a tel- Narendra Modi, who is running a killed by an ethnic Tamil suicide bomber in small NSG group trained to whisk him into English by national television terparts in April to follow him in evision interview yesterday. vigorous campaign blaming the 1991. The election is shaping up to be a away in case of attack, a Home Ministry networks. “I have requested a boycotting the meeting of the Singh said opinion polls were government for high inflation, highly charged clash with Modi and his official said. But his security has been meeting with the PM. I want to 53-nation bloc. negative because they could corruption and a recent economic aggressive Hindu nationalist supporters stepped up and he now has three layers of convey the strong sentiments of Colombo has resisted interna- influence voters to back candi- slowdown. facing off against their Congress-led rivals, protection: one group to take on any people of Tamil Nadu on his Sri tional pressure to investigate its dates seen as winners. He also Several recent polls have put who say the vote is a fight to preserve attackers, a second to provide cover and a Lanka visit,” she said. The minister, troops over allegations by rights claimed a polling company has Modi and the BJP ahead in some India’s secular foundations. third to get him to safety. Ajay Sahni, head a member of the ruling Congress groups that 40,000 civilians were asked him to pay a bribe to secure of the state elections and the Much of the battle will be waged at of the Delhi-based Institute of Conflict party, was speaking in Chennai, killed in the final push against a favorable result. He did not give general election. The BJP is fore- public gatherings. Even in these days of Management, said that given the rings of the capital of the southern state Tamil rebels in 2009. Small politi- details. The party on Oct 30 cast to win 162 seats in India’s 24-hour news channels and the Internet, security, the chance of a direct attack on of Tamil Nadu, whose population cal parties in Tamil Nadu includ- backed a proposal by the elec- 545-seat parliament next year, Indian election campaigns hinge around Modi or Gandhi was low. shares close cultural and religious ing the Dravida Munnetra toral commission to restrict opin- versus 102 for Congress, accord- rallies. Modi will address countless “The inner core is very heavily protect- ties with Sri Lanka’s ethnic Tamils. Kazhagam (DMK) have demand- ion polls. The commission has ing to a survey by pollsters Team throngs in coming months in his race ed,” said Sahni, whose institute studies Shipping Minister G K Vasan, ed India boycott the summit.DMK long sought to halt such polls Cvoter for two television net- against the Congress-led coalition which South Asian militant groups. “It would be who like Natarajan represents split with the Congress-led coali- once election dates are works released last month. is expected to put up Rajiv Gandhi’s son, hard to penetrate unless the groups have Tamil Nadu in the national parlia- tion in March over the Indian announced. They are currently “When the trend of opinion Rahul Gandhi, as its prime ministerial can- the capacity to project explosives such as ment, has also urged a boycott government’s perceived failure to only banned 48 hours before vot- polls is adverse to the political didate. An elite team protecting Modi has missiles. Those are difficult to smuggle over claims thousands of Tamils condemn the alleged atrocities ing begins. parties, they rubbish them. They been ordered to secure all public meet- around.” The biggest risk was the politi- were killed in the final months of against Tamils in Sri Lanka. “The India’s size and diversity means start demanding a ban,” senior ings using the same tactics of the Special cians themselves pushing against the Sri Lanka’s separatist war. The DMK is totally opposed to India’s that election issues can vary BJP leader said in a Protection Group that guards former and security bubble as they bid to reach out to junior minister for parliamentary presence at the summit. The widely between districts and local statement yesterday. “A poten- affairs, V. Narayanasamy, whose Congress party will have to pay a serving prime ministers and their families voters, Sahni said. Unlike in the West, pow- leaders hold great sway, making tial loser in an election cannot Pondicherry constituency has a heavy price for this,” DMK along the lines of the US Secret Service. erful leaders in India at times overrule results notoriously tricky to pre- seek to alter the rules of free large Tamil population, joined the spokesman T M Selvaganapathy Spotters in disguise will mingle in the their security agents and wade into dict. In the run-up to the last speech.” — Reuters crowds while an advance team will “sani- crowds.— Reuters chorus yesterday. “I have con- said.— AFP